St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-05

3. |" !. ! !: !:
ELSH
-ssTHL M/n L thirty years of
s@EGt W VIM age. She was
sSSNG w WEEET dressed in a faded
15zLsssassl VI Ng#M~ wooden gown and
%-SfiSssSS@R NlHEykEt + wore on her head
SS3 WIZ awhile linen cap,
-%SS-H A<g&. adjusted in a
- > S~ss ..:E - strange fashion
round her pale
features. whose wan expression be-
trayed long detention and meager
fare. Her fellow prisoners had nick
named her the Bretonne, no doubt be-
cause she was Il native of Brittany.
Condemned for the heniOuS crime of in
fanticide. she had been brought to the
house of detention i'll prison van eX-
actly six years ago. and had just been
set free, having served her time.
After getting back her old clothes and
receiving at the greffe or registry the
ridiculouSly small sum of money set
aside for her by the prison authorities
in return for six long years of unre-
hitting hard labor. she was now at last
once more free. with her passport signed
for LangreS. The coach, however, for
this latter place has already left. Tlmid
and awkward, she directed her falter
ing steps toward the nearest inn and
with tremulouS voice inquired if she
could be accommodated for the night.
The inn was crowded with customers,
and the innkeeper, who little cared to
house birds of that feather, advised her
to push on the wine shop at the other
end of the village.
The Bret0nne, more awkward and
timid than before, went on her way and
knocked at the door of the wine shop, a
mere pot house for navvieS. l he pub
LEANS wife eyed her miStruStfully from
head to foot, and guessing that she had
Just left the Centrale, or prison, sent her
OFF with the excuse that she did not take
in dodgers. Not daring to insist. the
poor woman turned away with dropping
head. while feeling of anger arose in
her heart against those who thus drove
her from their door.
She had only one thing left to do, and
that was to reach LangreS on foot.
Night, however. sets in early towards
the close of November. so that darkness
soon overlook the wayfarer on the dusky
road that extended far away through
the lonesome wood, and the north wind
blew keen among the Swaying trees,
scattering large heaps of dead leaves by
the way. During the six long years she
had spent in solitary confinement the
BretOnne had lost the habit Of walk
ing. Her Joints were as if knotted, and
her feet, unused to any but wooden
shoes, were cramped in the leather ones
she had on. After getting over a league
or so of ground her heels were Sorely
bliStered and she felt already tired out.
She sank down on a heap of stones,
Shuddering at the thought that she
might have to die of cold and hunger in
so dark a night, and with such nipping
blast that chilled her to the bone.
Suddenly, along the solitary road, and
). in the pauSeS OF the cold north wind
y she, thought she heard the drawing
tones of somebody singing in the dis
9-tance. She listened eagerly and was
&; soon convinced that she caught the
rosound of one of those dear, mOnotonous
.snatches of nursery rhymes with which
i,children are nurSed to sleep. Rising to
her feet she went in the direction of the
voice and at the turn of a croSS-road be-
held q red light glimmering through the
reached clay-built hovel, the roof of
which. covered with clodS, leaned
I,against rock, and whose only window
gave passage to Pickering ray. With
anxious heart she resolved to knock at
the door. AS soon as she had done so
: the singing ceased and a peasant
woman came to the threshold.
She was of about the same age as the
Bretonne,-but worn and wasted with
field labor. Her short gown. which was
rent in places. showed her dark. sun
burnt skin; her reddish hair fell in dis
order from underneath little cloth cap.
and her gray eyes looked with aStonish-
ment at the stranger, whose face had,
III fact, something unusual in its pallid
expression.
Good evening"" said the peasant
woman, raising the lamp she held in her
hand; ''what do you want?''
Il am ready to drop and can go no
further" murmured the BrettOnne with
deep sigh of anguish; 1.-The town is
yet far off, and if you'd let me put up
here for the night 'twould be a real
blessing. Eve money and would gladly
pay you for your trouble"
''Come in said the peasant, without
much hesitation; but" she added,
more cut of curiosity than from any
mistrust, ''why didn't you stop at Au-
berlve?'
''They wouldn't take me in," she
answered. And, casting down her blue
eyes, the Bretonne, as from a sense of
duty, added: Because, you see, I've
just left the Centrale, and that doesn't
give people confidence"
"Ah! Well, come in all the same. I've
little to fear any way, never having had
anything but misery for my lot 1t
would be unreasonable to leave a
Christian out of doors in such cold
weather. I'll make you up bed with
strewing of heather"
The peasant woman went to a shed
and brought in several almfuls of dry
heath. (which she spread in corner near
the chimney place.
You live alone here?" ventured TO
ask the Bretonne.
Eyes, with my little girl, who is near
III, L fD,,
working in the wood"
"YOur man is dead, then?'
Il never had one," bluntly rejoined
La Flueriotte; ''the poor girl has no
father. Well, you know, we all have
our troubles. There's your bed now.
and here are two or three potatoes
which were left from supper. 'Tis all
l have to offer yOu.'
She was interrupted by a childish
voice. which came from behind q plank
partition forming kind of dark closet
In one of the corners of the place.
Good night" added La Fleuriottc
"Pll be looking after the little one. who's
getting scared. Try to sleep wellr'
She took the lamp and sought the adj
joining closet, leaving BretOnne in the
dark. '''O
The latter had stretched herself OH
the sweet heather After eating her
frugal meal she tried to close her eyes,
but sleep would not come to their tired
lids. Through the partition boards she
heard La Fleuriotte chatting in low
voice to her little one, who had been
awakened by the arrival of the stranger
and would not go to sleep again. La
Alcuriotte fOndled and coaXed and
kissed her darling with endearing words,
the artlcSS expression of which moved
the poor Brctonne in an unwonted man.
her. 1t summoned up, confused ma
feInal instinct 1uhicli Still cluna horad ;.,